The Office of Basilan Lone District Representative and Deputy Leader Mujiv Hataman facilitated a meeting with the National Nutrition Council (NNC) headed by Assistant Secretary Dr. Azucena Milana-Dayanghirang, and the City Government of Isabela led by Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman, September 23. The meeting aimed to discuss the partnerships on the Nutriskwela Community Radio Program in Isabela City popularly known as the 97.5 DXNO Radyo Komunidad.
Dr. Philip Tan, founder and president of the United Evangelical Church, Inc. (UECI) also joined the meeting via online, where he expressed his intention to withdraw UECI’s role in the agreement, to give way to other priorities.
Meanwhile, awaiting the signing of the supplemental Memorandum of Agreement between NNC and LGU-Isabela City, the DXNO community radio shall temporarily cease its operations as advised by the NNC. The hosts of the radio segments of the said station may opt to air their shows online to continue providing information services to the constituents of Isabela City.
The DXNO Community Radio Program has been operating through the tripartite agreement for 14 years, through the initiative of Dr. Philip Tan in 2010. This agreement paved the way for NNC to provide the necessary equipment to establish the community radio, while the LGU provided the employees as manpower of the radio program.
The Nutriskwela Community Radio Project involves the setting up of non-profit, non-partisan community radio stations and the training of broadcast personnel in areas of the country with high malnutrition prevalence and which do not have easy access to broadcast media. The establishment of these radio stations could not be possible without the support of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for providing the necessary licenses and permits.
As part of the top priority agenda of this administration for a transparent, participatory, effective and efficient governance in Isabela City, radio programs have been one of its effective platforms. With this development, DXNO is expected to be more consistent with its mandate as NNC’s community radio.
In attendance were City Information Officer Mendry-Ann Lim, City Nutrition Action Officer Jesielyn Puno and Jomarie Tongol, Nutrition Officer IV of NNC.
